Dummy Mix 151 // Jack Savidge (Friendly Fires)

Within the space of four years, Friendly Fires have released two albums – their debut self-titled record in 2008 and ‘Pala’ LP in 2011, both via XL Recordings. While Paris, taken from their debut, is a slice of excellent shimmering pop that attracted producers like Justus Kohncke, Aeroplane, Joakim and Arto Mwambe to rework; Your Love, a chord-oriented cover of Trax Records classic by Jamie Principle is also undeniably outstanding. The three-piece have also put together two mix compilations, including the floor-friendly ‘Bugged Out! Presents Suck My Deck’, which features a collaboration between the band and Toronto’s Azari & III, and the genre-shifting ‘Late Night Tales’, a perfect showcase of their love and knowledge of dance music. Although the St. Albans trio have previously done a podcast for us, we’re truly pleased to welcome drummer Jack Savidge back here with his expansive selection of tracks for this week’s mix.

Outside of Friendly Fires, Jack is a DJ and a part of the Deep Shit collective alongside Foals member Edwin Congreave and silent partner Adam Parylak, which also makes him a label boss, a radio show host as well as a club night promoter. As a label, Deep Shit have launched their first single, ‘Heal’, by Congreave in autumn last year. They run a bi-monthly radio show on east London radio station NTS, and an irregular clubnight under the same brand name across the UK and around Europe. Jack’s mixing style often veers between different genres and tempos, alternating from mutant disco to jackin’ house while also venturing into machine funk and acid, which was notably maxed out at the time when he played alongside Carl Craig, Paul Woolford and Axel Boman at Boiler Room two years ago. His latest mix includes a healthy dose of all of the above, heading in a different direction to the regular Friendly Fires material. Ahead of his Deep Shit event at Peckhan’s Bussey Building on 16th February, we caught up with Jack via email.

Hey Jack, what’s this mix gonna do to our head?

Hopefully warm it up a little. It’s cold outside so I’ve chosen a bunch of music that’ll gradually get your metabolism moving. It’s an anti-hibernation, SAD banishment mix.

Please highlight a few tracks included and why?

The second track, Primitive World – Danceteria, has been a big highlight of some recent gigs. Massive big angry synth sound that can leave people feeling a little brutalised. People need a bit of brutality once in a while.

There’s a song a little later on, Name In Lights – Ur Oksunni, that’s a massive favourite from last year, if not the track I played out most often. I thought it deserved one last airing before I send it off in a blazing longboat to disco Valhalla.

Regarding Friendly Fires, can we expect new material soon? Is there an album in the works?

We had a bit of a break over the autumn but now we’re about to start a new record. I think there’s a good buzz in the camp right now, lots of ideas knocking around, and we’re moving to a new base in which to carry out proceedings. They say a change is as good as a rest and we’ve had both so we should be laughing.

As for Deep Shit, how’s that going?

We’re in the middle of preparing our next few 12“s and our next party. We’re planning a move down to south London that, just like anything worth doing, might be met with triumph or disaster. We’re going to work more on the label side of it this year, uncovering new talent and putting them out into the world as quickly as possible, which was always the point.

Who are you digging at the moment?

Django Reinhardt, Joey Bada$$, DJs Pareja, XCOM: Enemy Unknown and a really good recent biography of Fred Trueman.

Do you have a favourite jack track?

Got to be 7 Ways To Jack by Hercules. I’d say that was the most jacking track of all time – 7 whole ways to make you jack!

And finally, goals and predictions for 2013?

A new Friendly Fires record, more sporadic Deep Shit action and world peace.

Tracklisting:

Abstraxion – Alter Echoes (Brioski Remix)
Primitive World – Danceteria
Marcus Marr – Pleasure Moon (DJ Version)
Name In Lights – Ur Oksanni
Andrea Esu – E.S.U Track
Cajmere & Gene Farris – Donna’s A Flower
Denney – Ultraviolet
I:Cube – Y.O.U.R.O.C.K
Maxxi Soundsystem – Stella’s Way
Django Django – Hail Bop (Daniel Avery remix)
The Draughtsman – Geschmacklos
Hanfry Martinez & Terence – Sunday Gathering (Dyed Soundorom remix)
Friendly Fires – Why Don’t You Answer? (Jay Shepheard remix)
DJ Tennis & Pillowtalk – The Outcast